Croatia wants "EU present" at meeting

Croatian PM Ivo Sanader has accepted his Slovenian counterpart's invitation to talks, but under the condition that "EU representatives are present". This comes after Slovenia, an EU member, earlier this week blocked Croatia's progress toward the union over a border dispute. Ljubljana is blocking Zagreb "in a total of 11 chapters of negotiations with Brussels", our reporter says. Croatia wants "EU present" at meeting Slovenia explained this behavior by saying that Croatia is prejudging contentious border issues in its negotiating documents. But diplomats in Zagreb reject this, and claim that Croatia has not enclosed "a single geographical map with the documents". Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Jadronkovic sounded an optimistic note today by expressing his hope that the situation "will be resolved soon". In the meantime, attention is turned to a meeting to take place between Croatian and Slovenian premiers Ivo Sanader and Borut Pahor. The meeting initiative came from Pahor, while Sanader, who said he did not receive an official invitation, told the media he would only accept to participate in case the EU sends its representatives. The government in Zagreb reacted to the news from Ljubljana yesterday with a special statement that reminds of the European principle that bilateral issues should not be put on the negotiating table. "The government of Croatia is once again emphasizing that no document used in the accession talks with the EU prejudges the resolution of the border question with Slovenia. In line with this position, the government of Croatia cannot accept the request to exclude any document from a subsequent process to solve the border question before the International Court of Justice, or any other international judicial institution." "Therefore the government of Croatia expects Slovenia to once again reconsider and change its position on blocking Croatia's negotiations to join the European Union," the statement reads. Ljubljana's move has in the meantime caused outrage in Croatia, with numerous calls to boycott Slovenian goods and companies springing up on the internet. But politicians, in a bid to calm down the public, are saying that economic wars with neighbors are not advisable in a time of a global economic crisis. Croatian President Stjepan Mesic reacted by warning against "a tit for tat" approach. Our reporter says that Mesic's message, "it seems, has been understood by the Croats, who are after all not entirely given to boycotting Slovenian goods". But other news illustrate that the relations between the two states have been "poisoned like never before in history". A Slovenian karate team has canceled its planned participation in a Zagreb tournament, while the Croatian national football squad will no longer train in Slovenia – something that was customary since this country gained independence. The Croatian FA bosses in Zagreb are saying that while their decision "has nothing to do with politics", they must still "take note" of the Croatian public's mood.

Croatia wants "EU present" at meeting

Slovenia explained this behavior by saying that Croatia is prejudging contentious border issues in its negotiating documents.

But diplomats in Zagreb reject this, and claim that Croatia has not enclosed "a single geographical map with the documents".

Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Jadronković sounded an optimistic note today by expressing his hope that the situation "will be resolved soon".

In the meantime, attention is turned to a meeting to take place between Croatian and Slovenian premiers Ivo Sanader and Borut Pahor.

The meeting initiative came from Pahor, while Sanader, who said he did not receive an official invitation, told the media he would only accept to participate in case the EU sends its representatives.

The government in Zagreb reacted to the news from Ljubljana yesterday with a special statement that reminds of the European principle that bilateral issues should not be put on the negotiating table.

"The government of Croatia is once again emphasizing that no document used in the accession talks with the EU prejudges the resolution of the border question with Slovenia. In line with this position, the government of Croatia cannot accept the request to exclude any document from a subsequent process to solve the border question before the International Court of Justice, or any other international judicial institution."

"Therefore the government of Croatia expects Slovenia to once again reconsider and change its position on blocking Croatia's negotiations to join the European Union," the statement reads.

Ljubljana's move has in the meantime caused outrage in Croatia, with numerous calls to boycott Slovenian goods and companies springing up on the internet.

But politicians, in a bid to calm down the public, are saying that economic wars with neighbors are not advisable in a time of a global economic crisis.

Croatian President Stjepan Mesić reacted by warning against "a tit for tat" approach.

Our reporter says that Mesić's message, "it seems, has been understood by the Croats, who are after all not entirely given to boycotting Slovenian goods".

But other news illustrate that the relations between the two states have been "poisoned like never before in history".

A Slovenian karate team has canceled its planned participation in a Zagreb tournament, while the Croatian national football squad will no longer train in Slovenia – something that was customary since this country gained independence.

The Croatian FA bosses in Zagreb are saying that while their decision "has nothing to do with politics", they must still "take note" of the Croatian public's mood.